AMERICANA: Nickel Creek, “A Dotted Line,” (Nonesuch)

3 1/2 Stars

Amid “a dry sea of Solo cups,” Nickel Creek’s Chris Thile declares that it’s “a great way to start the first day of the rest of my life” — and hopefully the rest of the acoustic trio’s career. Regrouping after an open-ended hiatus that began in 2007, and with its first album since 2005, Thile and siblings Sara and Sean Watkins sound as tight and fearless as ever, and perhaps a wee bit more mature for the various solo projects and affiliations (including Thile’s Punch Brothers and Goat Rodeo) in between. Sublime vocal harmonies and intricate interplay between Thile’s mandolin, Sara’s fiddle and Sean’s acoustic guitar remain Nickel Creek’s hallmarks on this 10-track set, as does the daring spirit that finds the trio re-creating the playful, New Wave kinetics of Mother Mother’s “Hayloft” and tromping through the shifting dynamics of the instrumental “Elephant in the Corn.” The group sprints through “You Don’t Know What’s Going On” with hard rocking energy, while building “Love of Mine” with gentle assurance and delivering “21st of May” — Sean’s sly nod to the day after 2012’s supposed Ascension — with the gospel passion of a rural congregation. It’s a welcome return from a hiatus well-spent.

ROCK: Chiodos, “Devil” (drk/lgt Records/Razor & Tie) 3 Stars

This is the album fans of the Davison, Mich., alt.rock troupe have been craving since 2007’s reputation-staking “Bone Palace Ballet.” After a momentary lapse of reason separated frontman Craig Owens and drummer Derrick Frost from the band for more than three years and one album (“Illuminaudio”), Chiodos is back as it should be and rocking with its characteristic blast-furnace, angst-fueled intensity. But amid the trademark sonic chaos of “We’re Talking About Practice,” “Expensive Conversations” and the nine-minute-plus “I Am Everything Normal,” the set also sports some of Chiodos’ most direct material yet in “I’ve Been Looking for a Tornado,” “Under Your Halo” and “I’m Awkward and Unusual.” “We’re right back where we left off/It’s our time to really do things right,” Owens declares toward the end of the album — and that’s exactly what Chiodos does here.

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